锏 meaning and stroke order
Rapier; mace
How to write 锏, stroke by stroke
12 strokes in order. Each box adds the next stroke in red. Write top to bottom and left to right, and finish enclosing strokes last.
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Meaning of 锏
Definitions from CC-CEDICT, grouped by pronunciation.
- ancient weapon like a long solid metal truncheon
How 锏 is built
Phono-semantic (sound + meaning) character. Metal.
钅 gives the meaning and 间 hints at the sound.
Radical: 钅 (gold), shared by 223 characters on this site.
How to remember 锏
The metal radical 钅 on the left tells you it is a metal object, and 间 (jiān) on the right gives the sound. Picture a heavy metal bar you keep hidden in the space 间 between you and your enemy until the right moment.
Today 锏 (jiǎn) almost only appears in the set phrase 杀手锏 (shāshǒujiǎn), meaning a trump card or secret weapon. Example: 低价是他们的杀手锏。(Dījià shì tāmen de shāshǒujiǎn.) Low prices are their trump card.
Common mistake: Learners often read 锏 as jiān because of the phonetic 间, but the correct tone is third tone, jiǎn. It is also easy to confuse with 简 (jiǎn, simple), which has the bamboo radical on top instead of 钅 on the left.
Common words with 锏
Ordered by HSK level, then by how often they appear in everyday Chinese.
| Word | Pinyin | Meaning | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 杀手锏 | shāshǒujiǎn | (fig.) trump card |
Questions about 锏
How many strokes are in 锏?
锏 is written with 12 strokes. The diagrams on this page number every stroke in the order it is written, with the new stroke shown in red.
What does 锏 mean?
锏 (jiǎn) means rapier; mace. A common word with it is 杀手锏 (shāshǒujiǎn), meaning "(fig.) trump card".
How do you pronounce 锏?
锏 is pronounced jiǎn, in the third tone (dipping).
What is the radical of 锏?
The radical of 锏 is 钅, which carries the idea of "gold". Dictionaries list 锏 under this radical.
What is the traditional form of 锏?
The traditional form of 锏 is 鐧. Traditional characters are used in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau; 锏 is the simplified form used in mainland China and Singapore.
What did a 锏 actually look like?
It was an ancient weapon shaped like a long, solid metal truncheon. It had no sharp blade and was used for striking.
Is 杀手锏 a positive or negative expression?
It is neutral and common in everyday and business Chinese. It simply means your strongest move or decisive advantage, often one saved for a key moment.